Putney CX yesterday, a race I've always seemed to go pretty well at. It was old school all the way, four dismounts per 7-minute lap, which considering the modern day courses is way out on the edge. Turns out lack of mounting/dismounting has dulled those skills. I was all lined up for a first row start then realized my front tire was going flat, so I beat it up to the pits and grabbed my spare front wheel. By the time I got back to the start I was at the back, again! Couldn't really get going the first 1/4 lap, even though I know this course, even more than others, requires a super fast start. But once I got hip checked on the muddy downhill my adrenaline got pumping and the engine started up. I passed a 1/2 dozen guys the second half of the first lap and got to within 10 seconds of a main chase group of 10 guys. It was so close, I was right there. But I had burned too much the first couple laps and couldn't grab the wheels. I just dangled about 15-25 seconds off the back of that group, catching guys as they blew out the back, but finally cracked with two-to-go and trailed in, totally wrecked. Lay on the ground, prompting Steve-O to ask, 'You okay?' I guess." />

So Close, yet…

Another from Friday’s dirt jump session in Burlington, Smutok going pretty big. Raced Putney CX yesterday, a race I’ve always seemed to go pretty well at. It was old school all the way, four dismounts per 7-minute lap, which considering the modern day courses is way out on the edge. Turns out lack of mounting/dismounting has dulled those skills. I was all lined up for a first row start then realized my front tire was going flat, so I beat it up to the pits and grabbed my spare front wheel. By the time I got back to the start I was at the back, again! Couldn’t really get going the first 1/4 lap, even though I know this course, even more than others, requires a super fast start. But once I got hip checked on the muddy downhill my adrenaline got pumping and the engine started up. I passed a 1/2 dozen guys the second half of the first lap and got to within 10 seconds of a main chase group of 10 guys. It was so close, I was right there. But I had burned too much the first couple laps and couldn’t grab the wheels. I just dangled about 15-25 seconds off the back of that group, catching guys as they blew out the back, but finally cracked with two-to-go and trailed in, totally wrecked. Lay on the ground, prompting Steve-O to ask, ‘You okay?’ I guess.